One of the newest members of the Saginaw Sting, Coleman was suiting up for the Seattle Seahawks just a few months ago, but now he was watching them dominate in the biggest game in the world.

“I was in the hot seat during the Super Bowl,” Coleman said. “I was ticked off. In my rookie year, I had a chance to play in the Super Bowl and get a ring. I fell short a little bit, but I did what I could in rookie camp. … I wish I could have been there.”

Coleman went to rookie camp with the Seattle Seahawks after setting national kick return records for the University of St. Francis, but a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for Percy Harvin and the emergence of rookie wide receiver Arceto Clark out of Mississippi St. made it a numbers game for Seattle with Coleman finding himself as the odd-man out.

But his loss was Saginaw’s gain.

After getting let go by the Seattle, Coleman sent out an email to every NFL team, every Canadian Football League team and every indoor team he could find. Sting co-owner Jim O’Brien came across the email, saw his highlight tape and offered him a contract on the spot.

“Once he offered me a contract, I took it right away,” Coleman said. “It’s really fun up here. I love it.”

Coleman and the Sting kicked off their 2014 campaign Sunday against the Chicago Blitz, and they overcame a sluggish start to roll to a 42-25 win in a game that saw Coleman finish second on the team with three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.

“I thought Austin played hard for his first game,” Saginaw coach Fred Townsend said. “He’s adjusting and starting to see what it’s about. … He’s going to make some great plays down the line for us.”

The 23-year old has eight kick returns for touchdowns at St. Francis, while becoming an overall playmaker on the offensive side of the ball.

“He’s a playmaker that you just get him the ball in space and see what happens,” Sting quarterback AJ McKenna said.

“We’re roommates, so we’re always together, and we’re always talking football. … He’s been great at picking up things really fast and getting on the same page. If there’s anybody I can count on, it’s definitely him.”

Coleman has had interest from several Canadian Football League teams, in addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL.

“I talked to the Jaguars, and they told me to get into indoor football,” Coleman said. “Get a highlight tape together, send it to ‘em and we’ll see how it goes.”

Fans can get their first glimpse of Coleman and Co. on Sunday, Feb. 16, in Saginaw’s home opener at The Dow Event Center. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. against the Port Huron Patriots.

— Cory Butzin covers sports for MLive/Saginaw News. Email
him at cbutzin1@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.